Luxury safaris & tours in South Africa

A luxury South Africa safari typically starts from around $9,000 per person for a nine-night itinerary combining a private game reserve with Cape Town. Sabi Sands — the country’s premier private reserve — usually falls between $1,500 and $4,000 per person per night for the best lodges, and a comprehensive itinerary adding the Winelands and Mozambique extension runs £9,000–$18,000 per person. We price every trip individually based on your travel dates, group size, lodge preferences, and the experiences you want — and there are no planning fees.

May through September is generally the best time for safari in South Africa. The dry winter months mean vegetation thins out, animals congregate around water sources, and game viewing improves dramatically. July and August are peak months for big cat sightings in Sabi Sands. For whale watching around Hermanus, September and October are exceptional. If you’re combining safari with Cape Town and the Winelands, November through March offers long summer days and perfect conditions on the Cape Peninsula. We’ll help you time your trip to match your priorities.

Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve, adjacent to Kruger National Park, is our first recommendation for private luxury safari in South Africa — leopard and lion sightings here are among the most reliable on the continent, and the lodges like Dulini and Simbambili offer complete seclusion. The Kalahari, particularly Tswalu, is exceptional for tracking rare and unusual species including black rhino, pangolin, and meerkat. The Eastern Cape’s private reserves offer malaria-free family safaris with Big Five access. We’ll match you to the reserve that best suits what you want to see and how you want to travel.

Yes — and South Africa lends itself particularly well to two combinations. Pairing a Sabi Sands safari with the Mozambique coast (Benguerra Island or Azura) creates one of southern Africa’s finest bush-to-beach journeys. Alternatively, a three-nation route through South Africa, Botswana’s Okavango Delta, and Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls covers some of the continent’s most dramatic landscapes over 17–18 days. Cape Town and the Winelands extend naturally to either end of any itinerary as a cultural opener or closer.

South Africa is one of our top recommendations for family safaris. The Eastern Cape’s private reserves are malaria-free and offer Big Five sightings without the health considerations of higher-risk areas, making them ideal for younger children. Tswalu Kalahari in the Northern Cape is exceptional for families who want a more remote, less-visited experience with unusual wildlife encounters including meerkat colonies and horseback game drives. Cape Town and the Winelands add cultural depth that works across every age group. We design every South Africa family trip around your children’s ages, interests, and pacing.

For a focused single-reserve safari combined with Cape Town, eight to ten nights is the minimum to do it well. Extending to twelve or thirteen nights allows you to add the Winelands, Hermanus whale watching, or a Mozambique beach extension without feeling rushed. A three-nation safari covering South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe works best over sixteen to eighteen days. We’ll build your itinerary around the time you have and what you most want to experience.